Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-02-18
ovERWoRk IN SCHOOLS.
Evidence in Relation to the Oft-Re-
peated Complaint-The Trouble.

Evidence In Relation to the Oft-Re-
peated CompIaint-The Trouble.
The president of an eastern college
has been collecting evidence in relation
to the justice of the oft-repeated COM
plant that pupils in public schools are
generally overworked. He addressed
circulars to $50 teachers and physicians
of observation and experience asking
for their opinion on this subject. Only
five suggested that the work ordinarily
required of pupils in schools was Excess
sive or beyond their ability to perform
without impairing their health A very
considerable number, however, reported
that in their opinion very many of the
pupils in the public schools were injured
by the branches they pursued out of
school, by injudicious home training,
and by what are termed "the require
ments of modern society,""
Girls-and the complaints about over
work in school chiefly come from girls
and their mothers-who take three music
lessons week and who practice on the
piano two hours each day are very likely
to break down. If they take dancing
lessons on Saturday, "go to parties" one
evening each week, receive callers on
stated occasions, and devote considera-
BILE attention to society matters. they
generally lose their vivacity and health.
Their brothers, however, of about the
same age, who do not take music lessons.
who do not drum on the piano, who do
not entertain company in the parlor but
who prepare the wood for the kitchen
fire, bring in the coal, play ball, and en-
gage in sports likely to prove somewhat
detrimental to good clothes, come out all
right. These observing persons remark
that boys remain boys at an age when
their sisters have an ambition to be con-
sidered young ladies. AS consequence
the former are generally healthy and
strong, while the latter are sickly and
feeble.
The complaints about overwork in
schools, or "overpressure, as the Eng
lish term it, are chiefly heard in cities
and large towns. Complaints in regard
to this matter never come from the
country. Still it is a matter of common
observation hat the advancementis much
rapid in country than in city schools, more
which shows that the pupils do more
work. The country girl who prepares
breakfast for the family, walks two miles
to the school house, masters all the les
sons assigned by her teacher, walks home
at night, and gets supper before she COM
mences her studies for the evening, does
not lose the roses on her checks or the
strength of her limbs before she has
donned long dresses. If she happens to
move to the city, the chances are that
she will find herself in advance of the
girls of her own age in the school she
enters.
The complaints about over work in
schools in cities come from wealthy and
fashionable families. They are most
frequently heard in relation to schools
that draw their patronage from the
avenues. TIE German. Scandinavian,
and country raised" girls, whose parents
work for living, and who are obliged
to work themselves, mako no complaints
about overwork in schools, and their
mothers are not Obliged to consult high
priced doctors in relation to getting them
excused from certain studies. They
carry off most of the honors and leave
school rosy, healthy, and strong. In adj
dition to mastering all the branches their
more fortunate sisters have &C
quired a they have acquired Ian
guage new to them which they here
after adopt as their mothc: tongue.
There is very little ground For the COM
plants about overwor1 in Schools. The
overpressure is produced by music
teachers, dancing masters, ed doting
mammas who desire to have their
daughters prepared for society Chicago
Times.